He stepped back as if slapped, genuinely hurt, but Bisma didn’t allow herself to focus on it. She couldn’t, or she would do something idiotic like apologize. She could not let tenderness for him grow in her heart; shewouldnot. Not after all she had been through. She knew better—she had to know better.
‘Bis—’ he started again.
But she had already turned away from him. ‘Mei!’ she called. ‘We’re leaving. Now.’
She headed for the exit, Mei falling into step beside her.
‘Bisma,’ Xander said, his voice a strangled whisper, but she did not turn back.
8
Bisma returned home with Mei. The storm from last night was gone; the sky was blue, filled with fluffy white clouds. The air had an autumnal chill to it, but the sun warmed their skin as they walked back to the Enchanted Forest. Once they made it through the foggy border, Bisma felt she could finally breathe. She inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of damp earth. Then she walked through the mud and squishy moss of the wet woods as they journeyed to the treehouse.
There, Bisma pushed her cart back to the garden, and found Nori in the chicken coops, collecting eggs with straw in her messy hair. Luna was with the goats, milking them while Deeba sat beside her and watched.
‘Baji!’ Deeba squealed, the first to spot them. She waddled over, and the other girls followed.
‘They’re back!’ Luna called up to the treehouse.
Azalea came down, her fingers stained reddish pink from peeling pomegranates.
‘You’re alright!’ Nori said, crushing Mei with a hug and dropping an egg in the process. Deeba made it to Mei’s legs, latching on as well, while Mei laughed.
‘Nothing to worry about,’ she said.
‘Everything good?’ Luna asked Bisma, coming to her. Azalea joined, the three eldest stepping aside.
Bisma nodded, forcing a smile. ‘Like Mei said, nothing to worry about.’
‘Are you sure?’ Azalea asked, her brown eyes uncertain.
‘Yes, Azalea, I am sure.’ Bisma released a long breath. ‘How were the girls?’ This question was directed at Luna.
‘Fine. We slept after you left, and when we woke up this morning, we had breakfast and have just been doing chores,’ Luna replied.
Bisma nodded. ‘Good,’ she said. She suddenly felt exhausted, but there was no time to rest. She went to pick up Deeba, smothering her with kisses as the toddler laughed. She hugged Nori next, while Luna and Azalea hugged Mei.
‘Mei, why don’t you go rest?’ Bisma asked, tucking a strand of silky black hair behind Mei’s ear.
‘Baji, what about my chores?’
‘You get a break today,’ Bisma said. She gave Mei a conspiratorial smile. ‘We’ll all cover for Mei. Nori, you’ll help me cook, won’t you?’
‘Baji, noooo,’ Mei said, trying not to laugh. ‘Nori always adds too much salt!’
‘No I don’t!’ Nori retaliated, offended. ‘Baji, tell her! I always do it right!’
Unfortunately, Nori rarely did it right, but that’s why Bisma needed to teach her.
‘Yes … of course you do, sweetheart,’ Bisma reassured Nori. ‘But let’s just be extra careful, okay?’
‘Okie!’ Nori said, jumping up. Her blonde hair was a mess, falling in front of her face, and Bisma surreptitiously tucked the strands behind Nori’s ears, where they would remain for approximately three seconds before falling forward again.
Bisma helped Mei up the treehouse, Nori trailing behind her on the winding stairs with the basket of eggs. Luna finished up the chores with the animals, while Azalea gathered clothes totake down to the stream for washing. They would need to make good use of the sunshine before it rained again; already, Bisma could see the clouds circling.
Once again, they fell into the busy routine of ordinary life.
Slowly, Mei rebuilt her energy with daily fresh juice made of apples, beetroot, and carrots. The carrots were extra sweet this time of year. She rejoined the others with the chores after two days, helping Bisma make ghee from scratch.
